When we talk about our job and all the travels we’ve done, we’re often asked where we liked it the most. And so we did some thinking and what started as an idea for a brief overview has brought forward enough destinations for each one of us to present our own list of favourite places to spend our holidays. So, today I’ll kick things off.
Personally, I am more of a city person than a nature lover. Exciting historical museums, concert halls, fascinating architecture, beautiful hotels, well-maintained parks, and good public transportation make me happy. So, here are my (very urban) favourite travel destinations (in no particular order):
Table of contents
Warsaw
Let’s start in Europe. One city that I loved right from the beginning is Poland’s capital, Warsaw. I’ve spent a total of about two months there across many trips, and each day I discovered something new. From beautifully reconstructed palaces, large parks, and a charming “old” town (which was completely rebuilt after World War II) to very interesting museums. Whether it’s about art, history, natural sciences, music, vodka, money, toys, neon lights, or even pinball machines—there’s a museum for everything. Plus, there are impressive churches around every corner and a really good zoo (among many other things).
There’s something for every type of visitor: Soccer fans can check out the modern National Stadium or experience a Legia Warsaw match (with an amazing atmosphere). Classical music enthusiasts can enjoy a Chopin concert for around €15 (my personal highlight of every trip). You can walk around the city and its surroundings for hours, and if you prefer not to walk, there’s both excellent (and affordable) public transportation as well as reasonably priced Uber rides. I never get bored in Warsaw. The city has so much to offer—and almost everything is at very low prices. And with the frequent sales from LOT, it’s also cheap to get there.
Kuala Lumpur
Let’s stick to the low prices—but much farther away. The capital of Malaysia is not nearly as pedestrian-friendly as Warsaw, but it still has a lot to offer. From impressive buildings like the tallest Twin Towers and the second-tallest building in the world to interesting traditional museums. There’s plenty to see here. For me, however, Kuala Lumpur has become more of a “relaxation city.” I like to take advantage of the (very) low prices to simply relax in luxury hotels, take a taxi for €3 instead of the bus, and even go shopping. Things that would cost a fortune in other cities.
In addition, Malaysians (I’m generalizing from my own experience) are incredibly peaceful and friendly people. Thanks to that, even in this hectic and overcrowded city, you still enjoy a pleasant atmosphere.
Of course, Kuala Lumpur has its downsides. The heat is intense—walking around during the day requires caution. The city is also growing so rapidly that the cityscape isn’t as pretty and green as it was a few years ago, and the evening traffic has simply become too much. In the evening, you’d better take the subway instead of a taxi. So, is Kuala Lumpur the ultimate dream destination that I must recommend to everyone? No. But e.g. combined with its amazing neighbouring state Singapore, it’s certainly worth seeing at least once in a lifetime.
New York Before Christmas
Now let’s head in a completely different direction, not only geographically but also in terms of price. I’m not really a big New York fan. I find the city amusing for the first 48 hours, but then it starts to get on my nerves. Most of the things that make a vacation great for me—like food and hotels—are either horribly bad or very expensive in New York. Plus, the city is full of hectic people, it smells of marijuana at every corner, and the airports are far away and connected by expensive trains.
BUT… before Christmas, the city takes on a much more positive light for me. The Christmas decorations in the department stores and boutiques, the famous tree in front of the Rockefeller Center, and many other beautifully decorated Christmas trees all over the place—I actually like that. And nothing can get me more into the Christmas spirit than the fantastic “Christmas Spectacular” by the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. It is undoubtedly the best Christmas show I have ever encountered. So, (almost) every December I treat myself to 2-3 days in New York. Hotels are expensive during this time, but a Holiday Inn Express in Queens is still reasonably affordable. And you can always find cheap flights to New York.
Korea & Japan
Back to Asia, but this time East Asia. I’ve actually been to Japan five times in the last two years (often with my colleague Peer). The good food, the well-maintained infrastructure, virtually zero crime, combined with currently low prices, make Japan a great destination.
However, I’m more of a fan of Korea. One reason is that I really enjoy watching these romantic Korean “K-dramas”. So, I already have more of a connection to the country than to Japan, with which I have no personal ties. I also like that Korea is more modern, and livelier, and shares many of Japan’s advantages, such as low crime.
It’s ideal to combine both countries in one trip. Flights from Korea to Japan (or vice versa) are not particularly expensive, often even quite cheap with miles (e.g. with Delta SkyMiles).
San Francisco & Washington D.C.
Unlike Korea & Japan, I haven’t grouped these two destinations together because I would recommend visiting both within the same trip (I would even advise against it). They are simply my two favourite major cities in the USA, and they fit together thematically.
On the West Coast, we have San Francisco—Golden Gate Bridge, great parks, historic streetcars, exciting museums—the city has enough to fill an entire vacation.
The same can be said about Washington D.C. on the East Coast. You could spend weeks exploring all the fantastic (and mostly free) museums in detail and marvelling at all the monuments. It’s an impressive city with a lot of power, culture, and history.
Northern France & Paris
To wrap things up, let’s slow down the pace a bit and head to Northern France. If you like beautiful Belgian cities like Ghent or Bruges but prefer to have fewer tourists around you, you’ll surely enjoy cities like Lille, Amiens, Calais, or Caen. If you want something even cosier, you can explore picturesque villages like Honfleur or Deauville. Or you can relax on the beach and enjoy nature along the English Channel with its beautiful chalk cliffs. In the evening, you can indulge in delicious seafood to perfectly end the day. Overall, the entire region is very peaceful, with no trace of the unrest you might see on the news from France.
Since (the coast of) Normandy is only about 2-3 hours from Paris, you should also treat yourself to a few days in the capital, which, without a doubt, is one of the most beautiful cities in the world for me. A walk along the Seine, the many magnificent museums, the ambience in Montmartre, or just the view of the Eiffel Tower—Paris is something special and always worth a visit.
Honorable Mentions
Of course, Buenos Aires is also worth mentioning. Even though I’ve been there every year of my life (or maybe because of that), I don’t really see Buenos Aires as a travel destination. For me, the city means home and family. Nevertheless, Argentina’s capital is absolutely worth seeing!
Otherwise, there are several cities in the USA that I really liked—and where I would gladly spend several days again. These include e.g. Seattle and San Antonio.
Let us know in the comments if you agree with my assessment of these places and if you’re interested in reading more of these kinds of articles. Also, which are your favourite destinations?
Comment (1)
Thank you very much for all efforts!